History Main / GangBangers

TheMafia... [[RecycledInSpace FROM THE STREETS]]!

Gangbangers often fill the same role as TheMafia, but fit into a different archetype. Gangbangers are usually poor criminals, disorganized mobs who patrol ghettos, selling crack and getting into fights with rival gangs just for the hell of it, whereas Mafias are professionalized, very wealthy, diplomatic, often have connections to "legitimate" authorities, and more likely to plan assassinations and ambushes than just go around getting into fights. The two can overlap, but the distinctive dress will usually make the difference clear; Mafiosi wear suits, ties, sunglasses and (if period-appropriate) fedoras, while gangbangers tend to wear [[BadassesWearBandanas bandanas]] (on their heads, [[MalevolentMaskedMen around their faces]], around their legs, in their rear pockets, [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs or some combination of the four]]), baseball caps or beanies, [[SleevesAreForWimps wifebeaters]] (some will instead opt for [[InTheHood hoodies]], flannel shirts, [[CasualSportsJersey American sports jerseys]], or tall tees), baggy jeans with varying amounts of damage, and either [[BootsOfToughness Timberland boots]] or [[SneakersOfSneaking sneakers]].

Gangbangers often fill the same role as TheMafia, but fit into a different archetype. Gangbangers are usually poor criminals, disorganized mobs who patrol ghettos, selling crack and getting into fights with rival gangs just for the hell of it, whereas Mafias are professional, very wealthy, diplomatic, often have connections to "legitimate" authorities, and more likely to plan assassinations and ambushes than just go around getting into fights. The two can overlap, but the distinctive dress will usually make the difference clear; Mafiosi wear suits, ties, sunglasses and (if period-appropriate) fedoras, while gangbangers tend to wear [[BadassesWearBandanas bandanas]] (on their heads, [[MalevolentMaskedMen around their faces]], around their legs, in their rear pockets, [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs or some combination of the four]]), baseball caps or beanies, [[SleevesAreForWimps wifebeaters]] (some will instead opt for [[InTheHood hoodies]], flannel shirts, [[CasualSportsJersey American sports jerseys]], or tall tees), baggy jeans with varying amounts of damage, and either [[BootsOfToughness Timberland boots]] or [[SneakersOfSneaking sneakers]].

Gangbangers often fill the same role as TheMafia, but fit into a different archetype. Gangbangers are usually poor criminals, disorganized mobs who patrol ghettos, selling crack and getting into fights with rival gangs just for the hell of it, whereas Mafias are intelligent, very wealthy, diplomatic, often have connections to "legitimate" authorities, and more likely to plan assassinations and ambushes than just go around getting into fights. The two can overlap, but the distinctive dress will usually make the difference clear; Mafiosi wear suits, ties, sunglasses and (if period-appropriate) fedoras, while gangbangers tend to wear [[BadassesWearBandanas bandanas]] (on their heads, [[MalevolentMaskedMen around their faces]], around their legs, in their rear pockets, [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs or some combination of the four]]), baseball caps or beanies, [[SleevesAreForWimps wifebeaters]] (some will instead opt for [[InTheHood hoodies]], flannel shirts, [[CasualSportsJersey American sports jerseys]], or tall tees), baggy jeans with varying amounts of damage, and either [[BootsOfToughness Timberland boots]] or [[SneakersOfSneaking sneakers]].

* In ''Franchise/MassEffect'', a Commander Shepard with the Earthborn background managed to get out of this life. His/her gang was apparently called the Tenth Street Reds, and at one point in [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 the first game]] his/her old gang leader Finch will try to blackmail Shepard into using his/her Spectre status to get another member, charged with hate crimes, out of a turian jail.

* With the [[StreetUrchin Earthborn]] background, ''Franchise/MassEffect'''s Commander Shepard used to roll with the Tenth Street Reds. They dropped their flags after enlisting with the Systems Alliance when they turned 18.

Mafias will typically be composed of [[TheMafia Italians]], [[KosherNostra Jews]], [[TheMafiya Russians]] ([[{{Ruritania}} or some other post-Soviet Ethnic nationality]]), or occasionally [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Chinese]], [[{{Yakuza}} Japanese]] or [[LondonGangster British]], whereas as the Street Gang is made up of [[ScaryBlackMan Black people]] and [[LatinLand Mestizo Hispanics]]--or more recently, poor Asian-Americans (typically Filipinos and/or Hmong)--with UnfortunateImplications all around (although American producers can be forgiven, as this is often TruthInTelevision for the most infamous gangs, especially since an all-white gang fitting this description would almost certainly be labeled as {{UsefulNotes/Skinheads}} or something similar instead). May occasionally overlap with [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels Biker gangs]], though they usually fall into their own category.

Gangbangers often fill the same role as TheMafia, but fit into a different archetype. Gangbangers are usually poor criminals, disorganized mobs who patrol ghettos, selling crack and getting into fights with rival gangs just for the hell of it, whereas Mafias are intelligent, very wealthy, diplomatic, often have connections to "legitimate" authorities, and more likely to plan assassinations and ambushes than just go around getting into fights. The two can overlap, but the distinctive dress will usually make the difference clear; Mafiosi wear suits, ties, sunglasses and (if period-appropriate) fedoras, while gangbangers tend to wear bandanas (on their heads, [[MalevolentMaskedMen around their faces]], around their legs, in their rear pockets, [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs or some combination of the four]]), baseball caps or beanies, wifebeaters (some will instead opt for [[InTheHood hoodies]], flannel shirts, [[CasualSportsJersey American sports jerseys]], or tall tees), baggy jeans with varying amounts of damage, and either Timberland boots or sneakers.

* ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'': The Robbo Gang is pretty much Mario's take on this trope. True to what the blurb states, the have their base of operation in the East side of thew town, which is noticeable dirtier and rundown compared to the West side, controlled by their hated rivals: the very [[TheMafia mafia-esque]] Pianta Syndicate.

TheMafia... [[RecycledInSpace FROM THE STREETS]]! Members of a youth street-gang whose behavior usually involves various criminal activities, including drug dealing, killing members of other groups, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking vandalizing buildings by painting graffiti tags]]. May or may not commit rapes [[note]]despite the other meaning of banging gangs,[[/note]] as usually members of youth gangs have little trouble getting girlfriends who [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys like the excitement and danger]], some of whom are in girl gangs and killing their competitors too.

Mafias will typically be composed of [[TheMafia Italians]], [[KosherNostra Jews]], [[TheMafiya Russians]] ([[{{Ruritania}} or some other post-Soviet Ethnic nationality]]), or occasionally [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Chinese]], [[{{Yakuza}} Japanese]] or [[LondonGangster British]], whereas as the Street Gang is made up of [[ScaryBlackMan Black people]] and [[LatinLand Mestizo Hispanics]]--or more recently, poor Asian-Americans--with UnfortunateImplications all around (although American producers can be forgiven, as this is often TruthInTelevision for the most infamous gangs, especially since an all-white gang fitting this description would almost certainly be labeled as {{UsefulNotes/Skinheads}} or something similar instead). May occasionally overlap with [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels Biker gangs]], though they usually fall into their own category.

Mafias will typically be composed of [[TheMafia Italians]], [[KosherNostra Jews]], [[TheMafiya Russians]] ([[{{Ruritania}} or some other post-Soviet Ethnic nationality]]), or occasionally [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Chinese]], [[{{Yakuza}} Japanese]] or [[LondonGangster British]], whereas as the Street Gang is made up of [[ScaryBlackMan Blacks]] and [[LatinLand Mestizo Hispanics]], with UnfortunateImplications all around (although American producers can be forgiven, as this is often TruthInTelevision for the most infamous gangs, especially since an all-white gang fitting this description would almost certainly be labeled as {{UsefulNotes/Skinheads}} or something similar instead). May occasionally overlap with [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels Biker gangs]], though they usually fall into their own category.

Mafias will typically be composed of [[TheMafia Italians]], [[KosherNostra Jews]], [[TheMafiya Russians]] ([[{{Ruritania}} or some other post-soviet Ethnic nationality]]), or occasionally [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Chinese]], [[{{Yakuza}} Japanese]] or [[LondonGangster British]], whereas as the Street Gang is made up of [[ScaryBlackMan Blacks]] and [[LatinLand Mestizo Hispanics]], with UnfortunateImplications all around (although American producers can be forgiven, as this is often TruthInTelevision for the most infamous gangs, especially since an all-white gang fitting this description would almost certainly be labeled as {{UsefulNotes/Skinheads}} or something similar instead). May occasionally overlap with [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels Biker gangs]], though they usually fall into their own category.

Mafias will typically be composed of [[TheMafia Italians]], [[KostraNostra Jews]], [[TheMafiya Russians]] ([[{{Ruritania}} or some other post-soviet Ethnic nationality]]), or occasionally [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Chinese]], [[{{Yakuza}} Japanese]] or [[LondonGangster British]], whereas as the Street Gang is made up of [[ScaryBlackMan Blacks]] and [[LatinLand Mestizo Hispanics]], with UnfortunateImplications all around (although American producers can be forgiven, as this is often TruthInTelevision for the most infamous gangs, especially since an all-white gang fitting this description would almost certainly be labeled as {{UsefulNotes/Skinheads}} or something similar instead). May occasionally overlap with [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels Biker gangs]], though they usually fall into their own category.

Mafias will typically be composed of [[TheMafia Italians]], [[TheMafiya Russians]] ([[{{Ruritania}} or some other post-soviet Ethnic nationality]]), or occasionally [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Chinese]], [[{{Yakuza}} Japanese]] or [[KosherNostra Jewish]], whereas as the Street Gang is made up of [[ScaryBlackMan Blacks]] and [[LatinLand Mestizo Hispanics]], with UnfortunateImplications all around (although American producers can be forgiven, as this is often TruthInTelevision for the most infamous gangs, especially since an all-white gang fitting this description would almost certainly be labeled as {{UsefulNotes/Skinheads}} or something similar instead). May occasionally overlap with [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels Biker gangs]], though they usually fall into their own category.

Mafias will typically be composed of [[TheMafia Italians]], [[TheMafiya Russians]] ([[{{Ruritania}} or some other post-soviet Ethnic nationality]]), or occasionally [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Chinese]], [[{{Yakuza}} Japanese]] or [[KosherNostra Jewish]], whereas as the Street Gang is made up of [[ScaryBlackMan Blacks]] and [[LatinLand Hispanics]], with UnfortunateImplications all around (although American producers can be forgiven, as this is often TruthInTelevision for the most infamous gangs, especially since an all white gang fitting this description would almost certainly be labeled as {{UsefulNotes/Skinheads}} or something similar instead). May occasionally overlap with [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels Biker gangs]], though they usually fall into their own category.

Gangbangers often fill the same role as TheMafia, but fit into a different archetype. Gangbangers are usually poor criminals, disorganized mobs who patrol ghettos, selling crack and getting into fights with rival gangs just for the hell of it, whereas Mafias are intelligent, very wealthy, diplomatic, often have connections to "legitimate" authorities, and more likely to plan assassinations and ambushes than just go around getting into fights. The two can overlap, but the distinctive dress will usually make the difference clear; Mafiosi wear suits, ties, sunglasses and (if period-appropriate) fedoras, while gangbangers wear head bandanas, wifebeaters and torn jeans.

** ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'' has the Third Street Saints trying to reclaim the city from three new gangs. The Brotherhood loves tattoos and monster trucks, the Sons of Samedi are run by a Haitian voodoo priest who deals in [[FantasticDrug Loa Dust]] and the Ronin are a {{Yakuza}} inspired gang that ride motorcycles and wield katanas.

Members of a youth street-gang whose behavior usually involves various criminal activities, including drug dealing, killing members of other groups, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking vandalizing buildings by painting graffiti tags]]. May or may not commit rapes [[note]]despite the other meaning of banging gangs,[[/note]] as usually members of youth gangs have little trouble getting girlfriends who [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys like the excitement and danger]], some of whom are in girl gangs and killing their competitors too.